As many of you know, I never really learned to cook. Since moving into my apartment, I have decided to take a turn in the culinary world. Although somewhat challenging (Paula Deen makes everything look so easy on TV), I actually love cooking dinner!

I am starting off with small and easy meals just like this recipe. But don’t make fun of me for my basic culinary skills! Any step into cooking is a big step for me!

Tonight’s dinner: BBQ Chicken & Blue Cheese Pizza

1 prebaked thin pizza crust (I used Boboli Thin Crust)

1/3 cup barbecue sauce

1 1/2 cups diced chicken breast

1/2 cup vertically sliced red onion

1/2 cup coarsely chopped yellow bell pepper

1/2 small can of black olives

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 500°

Make your pizza and bake for 10 minutes!

Ta-Da! You have a fancy pizza

happy (and hungry) boyfriend

Both Steven and I loved this pizza. It was super filling and will make for great leftovers tomorrow. Next time I think I am going to add some green and red peppers, sliced tomatoes, and more black olives (because who doesn’t love black olives?)

We will miss your cuddles and your bark. Your obsession with the heated blanket in the winter and “suntanning” on the back porch in the summer. Mickey Mouse waffles won’t be the same because you won’t be frantically hiding your waffle pieces around the living room.

I’m going to miss your whine and how excited you would be when we would come home. I’ll always remember our game of shake (and how you wouldn’t do it if anyone was watching.) You loved laying on your giant pillow with the fan blowing on you and running around the living room at turbo speed.

My second of my two summer internships is at the one and only University of Portland. I have moved from the rooms of Franz Hall all the way to the glorious and elusive Waldschmidt Hall. I am interning in the Office of Marketing & Communication under the guidance of John Furey, the Director of Media Relations.

As the Media Relations Assistant, I am in charge of writing various press releases and feature articles that all revolve around the University of Portland. I absolutely love my internship!

Working at UP and being a student at UP are drastically different and I am one of a lucky few who is able to see both sides. As a student I never took into account all the work that goes behind the scenes of the university. There is someone who writes the press releases and feature stories for the website; there is someone who writes the copy for the official brochures. And now that person is me!

Through my internship, John has taught me how to simplify my writing style, which is the key to writing the perfect press release and feature article. I know so much more about the university with my four months in the Marketing & Communication Department than I did with four years as a student.

Being the Media Relations Assistant,I have been able to interview a variety of different people at the university to tell their story or share their event. I love coming into my internship (every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday) to get my new assignments for the day. I love being able to write about anything and everything UP.

Edward Sharpe & The Magentic Zeros are one of those strange and dynamic groups that you just can’t help but pay attention to.

I found this song randomly on Pandora a couple months ago and I absolutely fell in love with it. It’s super quirky and fun and I always find myself singing the lyrics at random times during the day. My love affair with this song runs pretty deep. Maybe I’ll make Steven learn Alex Ebert’s part…

“Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my ma and paBut not the way I do love youWell, holy moly, me-oh-my, you’re the apple of my eyeGirl, I never loved one like you”

Mrs. Astor Regrets: The Hidden Betrayals of a Family Beyond Reproach by Meryl Gordon

If you are looking for a non-fiction book that seems more like a fabulous Vanity Fair article, this is would be it. The book delves into the final years of New York socialite and philanthropist Brooke Astor and her life on Park Ave.

Throw in her trust-fund living son Tony who is accused of mishandling his famous mother’s financial affairs, and you have one great (and true) story. It’s Oscar de la Renta dresses & grand larceny; a look into the Upper East and the New York court system.

This story is upper-class tabloid fodder. And so far it’s been a real page turner.